Playoff baseball is upon us. Starting Wednesday, May 87th the 2025 New Jersey state playoffs kick-off with the round of 16. Plenty of interesting matchups will take place this week, all of which are must win games for everybody. Today, we will be taking a dive in to the non-public brackets, highlighting teams, players, and out staff will be picking winners for each bracket as well as picking a dark horse team to watch in each bracket. 

NORTH A BRACKET

Don Bosco Prep gets the top seed after losing just two times in the regular season and capturing the Bergen County tournament crown.

+ The Pick - Don Bosco Prep
The Ironmen have a deep lineup and a pitching staff that has accumulated big innings over the last several years. On the mound, they’re led by Charleston Southern commit Anthony Costello and Stony Brook commit Dylan Henshaw. Both of these guys missed all of 2024 with Tommy John surgery but have both come back even stronger in 2025. The offense is paced by Maryland commit Chase Bagley, Virginia commit Michael Hanna, and No. 1 ranked 2025, Virginia commit Nick Becker. This bracket is a gauntlet, with Don Bosco set to take on the winner of Bergen Catholic and Delbarton. The Green Wave gave Don Bosco one of its two losses earlier this year. The bottom half of the bracket has second seeded Seton Hall Prep, who has lost just once this year. This bracket is always a fun one to follow with goliaths of NJ high school baseball all lined up.

+ Dark Horse - St. Peter’s Prep

The Marauders have played soundly all year and captured yet another Hudson County crown earlier this month. They beat Don Bosco in April behind the right arm of uncommitted junior Logan Chi. NJIT commit Lorenzo Camilleri was just named county Player of the Year and has seven doubles, six triples, and five homers so far. Freshman Anthony Huraranga has been great in his first season, hitting .339 with 25 walks and 20 runs scored.

SOUTH A BRACKET

Christian Brothers picks up the top seed after going 19-4 in the regular season.

+ The Pick - Christian Brothers
The Colts have depth to the pitching staff with junior LHP Danny DiTullio leading the way with 35.2 IP – but Michigan commit Dylan Iwanyk, Catholic University commit Jack Dufficy, Virginia commit Sean Loggie, and Babson commit Shane Langan all logging significant innings as well. Senior catcher Dan Tsimbinos, a Catholic University commit, has 12 doubles and leads the team with 27 RBI and 32 runs scored.

+ Dark Horse - Immaculata
Coming off a strong 16-7 in which it captured the Somerset County crown, Immaculata has the pitching depth to make a significant run in this tournament. The Spartans have four pitchers who have thrown 30+ innings, with junior Jackson Trego leading the way with 41.1 IP and a 1.35 ERA. Power armed lefty Ryan Auten, a Wake Forest commit, is a striking out nearly two per inning, while junior Connor Quinn has a 0.40 ERA in 34.2 IP. Fairfield commit Owen Schilling is hitting .328 with three homers and a team leading 23 RBI while sophomore Justin Labrador is hitting .378. 

NORTH B BRACKET

 Montclair Kimberley takes the top seed after going 16-5 in the regular season.

+ The Pick - Montclair Kimberley
There’s just 10 teams in this bracket and MK has been playing well all season. It has leaned on senior Alesandro Rizio on both sides of the ball. Rizio has 50.2 IP and punched out 56 while walking just 16. At the plate, Rizio is second on the team in RBI and is tied for the team lead in homers. Senior Quinn Carlesimo is hitting .410 with 26 RBI while Senior Jake Rendino is hitting .333 with 22 stolen bases.

+ Dark Horse - Rutgers Prep
Seton Hall commit, junior Lizandro Perez has struck out more than two per inning, with 41.1 IP and 85 K’s while scattering 16 hits and junior Peter Wheeler is second on the team with 34.2 IP. At the plate, junior catcher Maddox Chu is hitting .444 with six doubles and a team leading 24 RBI.

SOUTH B BRACKET

Gloucester Catholic grabs the top seed after going 20-3 during the regular season and among the state’s top ranked teams the whole year.

+ The Pick - Gloucester Catholic
The Rams are just too deep with their lineup and pitching staff. Coastal Carolina commit Jackson Smallets has been the workhorse on the mound, logging 52 IP and punching out 51 with a 1.08 ERA and junior Jude Morgan is second on the team with 38 IP and a 0.37 ERA. Auburn commit Guy Lynam, East Carolina commit Braeden Lipoff, both ranked in the top three for 2026s in NJ, have paced the offense all season long. Virginia commit Noah Danza has provided eight extra base hits and senior Jack Mustaro is hitting .441 with two homers and three doubles.

+ Dark Horse - Doane Academy
Doane has gone 14-6 and 7-0 in the BCSL. They’re led by junior Jacob Powell on the mound (39.2 IP, 69 K). At the plate, Powell is hitting .582 with 32 stolen bases and 31 runs scored. Other key contributors include junior Chris Powell (.422, 27 SB’s) and sophomore William Tschumy (.404, 6 2B, 2 HR, 24 RBI).

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